Things will get much more expensive when it comes time to sign the running back they selected fourth overall in the NFL draft.

Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is by far the most dynamic offensive player coming out of college. As such, he will command a six-year deal worth at least $50 million with no less than $20 million in guarantees.

This comes one year after giving No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell a rookie-record six-year, $61 million deal, with $31 million in guarantees.

With deals like these, the Raiders can't afford many more 4-12 seasons. The cost of drafting in the top-five is simply too high and NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw vows there will not be an NBA-style rookie wage scale under his watch.

"We'll try to work something out with the Raiders that's fair," said Ian Greengross, who is McFadden's agent.

Greengross already has researched recent going rates for the No. 4 overall slot. The past two players taken there were linemen, who generally are paid less than skill-position players.

The Buccaneers gave last year's No. 4 pick, defensive tackle Gaines Adams, a six-year contract worth up to $46 million with $18.56 million guaranteed. Consider that the leaping point for the McFadden talks.

The last running back drafted fourth overall was Chicago's Cedric Benson in 2005. He staged a 36-day holdout and missed all of training camp.

The Raiders must find a way to avoid a similar scenario. Last year, Russell had the longest holdout by a No. 1 overall pick in 20 years and didn't sign until after the season opener.

The standoff cost Russell his rookie season. He didn't start until the season finale.

McFadden is well aware of the side effects of Russell's holdout. McFadden said signing by camp is "very important.

"I want to be out there, so I'll let my agent take care of that and I feel like he's going to get it done for me."

Greengross said he has not had a client miss training camp time. Last year, he represented No. 10 pick Amobi Okoye, who missed the first team meeting because of paperwork issues but got to practice in time.

Oakland's lead negotiators are Mark Jackson and Marc Badain, who took some first-time lumps in the Russell deal but used that experience to help finalize several major offseason contracts.

Contract talks aren't expected to begin until July.

"We don't want any player to miss training-camp time," Grossman said. "That's a time where you can have two-a-days and go through all the specific stuff that you're going to learn for your position.

"It's a two-way street and, hopefully, we'll work it out together so he won't miss any time."

Rhodes was released to free up salary-cap space and unclog a crowded backfield.

A 1,000-yard rusher for the Colts, Rhodes spent one season in Oakland. He started the final two games and had consecutive 100-yard performances.

Several teammates said they were surprised by the move after Rhodes agreed to a pay cut from $3 million to $1.75 million in the offseason. LaMont Jordan, who is owed $4.7 million next season, could be next.

"I didn't foresee that happening," running back Justin Fargas said. "Dominic is a good player and a good locker-room guy (who) brings everybody else up. Those are the kind of guys you want to have around, so when they let him go, it was a little bit of a shock, a little bit of a disappointment to me."

Briefly: Fargas was honored at the Ed Block Courage Award banquet Monday in Oakland. The award goes to NFL players who overcome adversity.